Gage laughed. ‘They’re the military-history nuts. I put the word out online and dropped a few teasing hints about certain books that were on sale, so here they are.’
‘Another few weeks and you’ll be swamped with their friends and relatives looking for Christmas presents.’
‘That’s the plan.’
‘Whoa! Who’s that gorgeous creature?’ Taff’s intense green eyes gleamed.
‘That’s Tamara. She’s...’ The words to describe what she was to him wouldn’t come.
‘Oh, mate, I get it and don’t blame you. I’ll steer clear. Don’t want to step on your toes.’ Taff threw up his hands. ‘Although crocked as you are, you’re hardly going to catch me, are you?’
He couldn’t take that sort of ribbing from anyone else, but the first genuine smile he’d managed in days broke free. ‘Bastard.’
‘If she’s not up for grabs, I’ll leave you to your adoring fans and see if there’s anything else to appeal to me, apart from a good book of course.’ Taff grinned and sauntered off. Almost immediately he homed in on an attractive redhead.
If Gage were kinder, he’d find a way to warn his friend off. He could explain that Josie was a fiery nurse who’d eat Taff for dinner, and the stocky man with salt-and-pepper hair standing next to her was Harry, Josie’s police detective husband. But he didn’t.
With what he hoped was a welcoming smile, he ploughed back into greeting people.
* * *
‘So, what’s up with you and our wounded hunk?’ Laura tapped Tamara’s arm. ‘He’s thrown a few sad looks your way when he thinks no one is watching, and you’ve got that false-front thing going on. The one that says Tamara Pascoe isn’t intimidated by anything, and will grit her teeth so hard they fall out rather than admit to any weakness.’
For a brief moment, Tamara contemplated what it might feel like to pour out all her problems and ask for advice.
‘And, yeah, we both know I was a total prat about the baby thing.’ Laura lowered her voice. ‘Learn from my mistakes. I’m damn lucky to still have Barry. He’d have been well in his rights to scarper and leave me to it. If I’d told you and the girls in the first place, my marriage wouldn’t nearly have fallen apart.’
‘I’m tired. That’s all. We’ve worked non-stop the last ten days.’ Tamara forced a smile.
‘Fine. Be an ostrich. But if someone comes along and kicks your feathered ass, don’t blame me.’ Laura tossed her blonde hair and stomped off.
She didn’t have the energy to blink away the tears filling her eyes.
‘Isn’t this awesome?’ Melissa looked vibrant and elegant today in a silky purple shirtdress and black patent heels. ‘Oops, don’t tell me. Mark Darcy has turned into Daniel Cleaver. The rotter.’
Her confusion must’ve shown because Melissa’s tinkling laugh rang out.
‘I’m immersed in the world ofBridget Jones’s Diaryat the moment, ready for book club. Poor Nathan is tearing his hair out this month.’
A pang of envy stabbed her heart. At one point she’d nurtured a stupid hope that Gage might take after Nathan, who always read the book-club selections and happily discussed them with his wife. When the couple had been dating, he’d even planned wonderful trips to many of the locations in the Cornish books that had been the theme for the year. Another dream out the window.
‘I haven’t had time to read it yet.’
‘Why don’t you come to mine after you close here? Nathan’s going for a drink with Quinten, so we can open a bottle or two and eat junk food.’ Melissa squeezed her hand. ‘It might cheer you up.’
The tears welled up again. She didn’t deserve such good friends. One had gone off in a huff already. Tamara couldn’t afford to lose another. ‘Thanks. Did you talk to Nathan?’
‘He’d already guessed that Bryan’s news upset me. There’s not much my dear husband misses. He was sad too. That kinda helped.’ Melissa straightened her shoulders. ‘There’s always next month.’
‘Of course there is.’
She wasn’t convinced by Melissa’s casual response, but would have to be satisfied for now. There was a queue of people waiting to pay, and Gage looked tired and drawn from standing for far too long. Being in one position for an extended time was hard on his knee anyway, these days, but while he was still in recovery mode?
‘I need to go help serve.’
‘You do that. While you’re there, make sure he gets a good eyeful of you in that dress. I bet you haven’t paid any attention to all the admiring glances you’re getting today?’
‘Me?’ Compared to the jeans and T-shirts she practically lived in, she might not look too bad, but Melissa was undoubtedly laying the compliments on with a trowel to boost her confidence.
